Transcript Myth
Myth
The word myth often has three meanings.
1. “something widely accepted but is really false.” 2. Stories in early societies which tell of heroic actions or forces of nature or gods or goddesses. usually sacred, 3. Primitive belief about nature and the universe. “Pre-scientific” Usually a traditional story of ostensible historical events that serves to unfold part of the world view of a people or explain a practice, belief, or natural phenomenon; parable, allegory; an ill-founded belief held uncritically especially by an interested group.” Webster's
Myths are considered
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true sacred stories
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that occurred in the remote past
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and have non-humans (gods, monsters) as the principal characters.
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“presents in the form of a narrative the basic world view of a society.” (Ellwood)
Subjects of myth
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Creation of world and humans
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Cosmic catastrophes
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Origins of institutions
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Phenomena of birth and death
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Relations of the gods with each other and mortals
Functions of Myth
Gives contours to the meaning of life: to answer the sort of awkward questions that children ask, such as: 'Who made the world? How will it end? Who was the first man? Where do souls go after death?'. . Gives validity to and explains certain ideas and principles eg. incest taboos, food taboos teaches morality and social behavior - what types of things should and shouldn’t be done and the consequences for those wrong doings validates the existing social order (e.g Trobriand myth) enshrines conservative social values, raising tradition on a pedestal. It expresses and confirms, rather than explains or questions, the sources of cultural attitudes and values.
The Four Functions of MYTH 1 The first is the mystical function...realizing what a wonder the universe is, and what a wonder you are, and experiencing awe before this mystery...
2 The second is a cosmological dimension, the dimension with which science is concerned--showing you what the shape of the universe is, but showing it in such a way that the mystery again comes through...
3 The third function is the sociological one--supporting and validating a certain social order...It is this sociological function of myth that has taken over in our world--and it is out of date...
4 But there is a fourth function of myth, and this is the one that I think everyone must try today to relate to--and that is the pedagogical function, of how to live a human lifetime under any circumstances. Myths can teach you that.
Joseph Campbell: The Power of Myth, page 31.
FORM BELIEF TIME PLACE ATTITUDE PRINCIPAL CHARACTERS Myth Legend Fact Fact Remote Past Recent Past Folktale Fiction Any Time Different world: other or earlier Sacred Non-human (often gods) World of today Secular or sacred Human (heroes) Any Place Secular (non sacred) Human or non-human
Religion and Power Priests versus Shamans
institutional functionaries
authority comes from his service in a sacred tradition
power is inherited or is derived from the body of codified and standardized – from society
must have competence in conducting ritual -
Symbols of a rite are sensorial perceptible to a congregation and have a permanence in that they are culturally transmissible
The priest is an actor in a culturally scripted drama
Inspirational functionaries
Authority from supernatural
Shaman’s powers come from divine stroke and personal ability
efforts are individual and occasional
shaman deals with spirits and lesser deities
tends to dominate in food gathering societies
most frequently performs a curing rite
A shaman of the Sitka Qwan Indians (Alaska), wearing a ritual mask, is doing a healing.
The shamanistic complex Source of power comes from Belief in magic which has three aspects 1. The sorcerers belief in the effectiveness of his techniques an hamatsa (shaman) who has become possessed by supernatural madness after spending many days in the woods as part of the hamatsa initiation ceremony.
2. The patient’s or victim’s belief in the sorcerer’s power 3. The faith and expectations of the group,
Revitalization Movements The Ghost Dance
Wovoka (Jack Wilson
)
A wickiup
A wickiup
The Ghost Dance
Ghost Dance Shirt
Wounded Knee Massacre South Dakota Dec 29 th 1890
Revitalization Movements
NATIVISTIC: rejection of alien values and customs
REVIVALISTIC: return to (presumed) ancient ways
VITALISTIC: emphasis on importing alien elements (e.g. Singer sewing machines, Gordon’s gin)
MILLENARIAN: apocalyptic transformation of the world, involving overturning of present social system, predicted to occur in near future
MESSIANIC: spiritual savior will appear, or is already present, to transform the world through his personalized power
Wicca: What is it?
Witchcraft also called Wicca or the Craft
a neo-pagan, nature-centered religion
It worships a Goddess and usually a God
uses magic as a tool of personal and global transformation.
Gerald Gardner 1884-1964
Rituals & Beliefs
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Most rituals take place in a circular formation Symbolizes boundary between outside world and the world of the goddesses Earth religion: primary beliefs revolve around environment Rituals also honor birth, death and reincarnation. Beliefs expressed through music, dancing and/or meditation as a way for members to experience their own power and connectedness.